Local offenders ordered to pay $87,000 in restitution for unemployment fraud

Published 7:21 am, Wednesday, February 29, 2012

The Texas Workforce Commission recovered nearly $4 million in fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits in 2011, with 24 Harris County residents and one Galveston County resident prosecuted for fraud.

The local prosecutions resulted in $87,223 in restitution, the Workforce Commission said.

In addition to restitution orders, individuals who commit UI fraud can be ordered to pay fines, perform hours of community service and some serve jail time.

“Preserving our employer-paid Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund for those who are legitimately due its benefits is a task we take very seriously,” said TWC Chairman Tom Pauken. “These efforts to prosecute those who cheat the system have resulted in millions being returned to the fund.”

TWC administers UI benefits to workers who become unemployed through no fault of their own and are actively seeking work. TWC regularly cross matches UI claims with employer wage reports and other databases to detect possible UI fraud. If TWC discovers that claimants have received UI benefits through fraudulent applications, the agency seeks immediate reimbursement of overpayments. Examples of UI fraud include giving false information and failure to report self-employment or other earnings while receiving UI benefits.

To report suspected UI fraud, call the TWC Fraud and Program Abuse Hotline at 800-252-3642.

Here are the 2011 prosectuions for this area:

GALVESTON COUNTY

On 7/20/11, Karen R. Hurst, 54, received 2 years deferred adjudication probation from County Court No. 2 on the charge of Class A misdemeanor Fraudulently Obtaining Unemployment Insurance Benefits.

HARRIS COUNTY

On 1/7/11, Cafrena L. Pool, 30, received 5 years deferred adjudication probation from the 337th District Court on the charge of state jail felony Theft. Pool was ordered to make $8,294 restitution, to pay a $300 fine, and to perform 120 hours community service.

On 1/11/11, Antoinette E. McKnight, 35, received 3 years deferred adjudication probation from the 185th District Court on the charge of state jail felony Theft. McKnight was ordered to make $1,296 restitution, to pay a $300 fine, and to perform 120 hours community service.

On 1/13/11, Nicholas L. Lynch, 31, received 4 years deferred adjudication probation from the 339th District Court on the charge of state jail felony Theft. Lynch was ordered to make $3,800 restitution, to pay a $300 fine, and to perform 120 hours community service.

On 1/20/11, Maria A. Fisher, 47, was convicted by the 230th District Court of Class A misdemeanor Theft. Fisher paid $4,704 before sentencing and was ordered to pay a $300 fine.

On 2/24/11, Michael F. Hutchins, 51, was convicted by the 263rd District Court on the charge of state jail felony Theft and sentenced to 6 months state jail time. Hutchins was ordered to make $3,150 restitution.

On 2/25/11, Janie Limones, 38, received 4 years deferred adjudication probation from the 339th District Court, Harris County, on the charge of state jail felony Theft. Limones was ordered to make $6,743 restitution, to pay a $300 fine, and to perform 120 hours community service.

On 3/1/11, Chelsea J. Harris, 40, was convicted by the 263rd District Court of state jail felony Theft and sentenced to 30 days in the Harris County Jail pursuant to TEX. PEN. CODE §12.44(a). Harris made $3,132 restitution before sentencing.

On 3/22/11, Frankie J. Holiday, 45, received 5 years deferred adjudication probation from the 339th District Court on the charge of state jail felony Securing Execution of Document by Deception. Holiday was ordered to make $4,122 restitution, to pay a $300 fine, and to perform 120 hours community service.

On 3/24/11, Joe Pena, 40, was convicted by the 208th District Court of state jail felony Theft and sentenced to 30 days in the Harris County Jail pursuant to TEX. PEN. CODE §12.44(a). Pena made $4,550 restitution before sentencing.

On 3/31/11, Oliver Carter, 48, was convicted by the 182nd District Court of state jail felony Theft and sentenced to 10 months state jail time.

On 3/31/11, Cody W. Nelson, 27, received 2 years deferred adjudication probation from the 182nd District Court on the charge of state jail felony Theft. Nelson made $3,852 restitution before sentencing and was ordered to pay a $300 fine and to perform 100 hours community service.

On 4/14/11, Jimmy Vasquez, 41, received 3 years deferred adjudication probation from the 182nd District Court on the charge of state jail felony Theft. Vasquez was ordered to make $3,640 restitution, to pay a $300 fine, and to perform 120 hours community service.

On 4/21/11, Sandra F. Holloway, 54, received 5 years deferred adjudication probation from the 339th District Court on the charge of state jail felony Theft. Holloway was ordered to make $6,657 restitution, to pay a $300 fine, and to perform 120 hours community service.

On 5/17/11, Craig A. Hardin, 54, received 2 years deferred adjudication probation from the 176th District Court on the charge of state jail felony Theft. Hardin made $3,150 restitution before sentencing and was ordered to pay a $300 fine and to perform 120 hours community service.

On 6/14/11, Gregory D. Spillman, 48, was convicted by the 177th District Court of state jail felony Theft and sentenced to 60 days Harris County jail time. Spillman made $4,601 restitution before sentencing.

On 6/15/11, Angela Soria, 34, received 2 years deferred adjudication probation from the 185th District Court on the charge of state jail felony Theft. Soria made $3,033 restitution before sentencing, and was ordered to pay a $300 fine and to perform 100 hours community service.

On 6/20/11, Manual Garcia, 49, was convicted by the 176th District Court of state jail felony Theft and sentenced to 10 months state jail time.

On 4/26/11, Darryl L. Overstreet, 43, received 3 years deferred adjudication probation from the 184th District Court on the charge of state jail felony Theft. Overstreet was ordered to make $4,200 restitution and to pay a $600 fine.

On 9/1/11, Troy Hagendorf, 47, received 4 years deferred adjudication probation from the 174th District Court on the charge of state jail felony Theft. Hagendorf was ordered to make $3,280 restitution, to pay a $500 fine and to perform 160 hours community service.

On 9/19/11, Terrance W. Crawford, 45, was convicted by the 180th District Court of state jail felony Theft and sentenced to 2 days in the Harris County Jail pursuant to TEX. PEN. CODE §12.44(a).

On 9/23/11, Steven R. Appling, 45, was convicted by the 338th District Court of state jail felony Theft and, due to prior felony convictions, was sentenced to 2nd degree felony punishment of 2 years in the Texas Dept. of Corrections.

On 9/29/11, Jatonsie J. Hall, 29, received 3 years deferred adjudication probation from the 248th District Court on the charge of state jail felony Theft. Hall was ordered to make $3,472 restitution and to perform 80 hours community service.

On 10/4/11, Juan M. Garza, 35, was convicted by the 209th District Court of Class A misdemeanor Securing Execution of Document by Deception and sentenced to 2 days in the Harris County Jail. Garza was ordered to make $2,403 restitution and to pay a $600 fine.

On 6/17/11, Tina R. Holden, 27, received 3 years deferred adjudication probation from the 248th District Court on the charge of state jail felony Theft. Holden was ordered to make $3,768 restitution, to pay a $300 fine, and to perform 120 hours community service.